00:01Shiva Subdeo will be going to the Central American and Caribbean Championships as the first male
00:07Karatika from Trinidad and Tobago to do so. It was not a simple process after he originally missed
00:14the final spot for qualification. It has always been a dream to go to the CSC Games. However,
00:21at the qualifier in April, I only secured the first alternate spot, so I wasn't in the top seven
00:30to qualify or got the official confirmation that I was qualifying for the championship. However,
00:40last Monday or this Monday, I received an email indicating that one of the fighters will no
00:47longer be competing and due to myself earning that alternate spot, I earned the position to go to
00:54the games. So I am elated. It was extra special for the 36-year-old athlete who was mourning the
01:01passing of his mother during the tournament. A presence Longfelt vanished in an instant. He
01:07says losing his mother was a pain that hit different to being punched or kicked. Even affected by the
01:13ache of absence, he still persevered. I was disappointed. And the reason being is this year has been
01:22emotional. My mom passed away a month before the qualifier. So I had to stay focused in going into the
01:38qualifier. I don't think I spent a lot of time grieving. And I think my friends, my family,
01:46colleagues, my support staff, they knew that I had to push through and they knew that I was pushing
01:53through preparing for the qualifier. I wanted to dedicate that accomplishment being the first male
01:59athlete from China and Tobago in the sport of karate qualifying the games to my mom. And tears flow from
02:08my eyes in the ring when I lost. I still gave God thanks. It nearly crushed him not being able
02:16to
02:16honor his mother in the way he wanted. But then came a strange turn in his fortunes. Getting the news
02:22on
02:22Monday that we go into the games. We are ready. We are prepared. We are the wheels are in motion.
02:29We
02:29didn't stop and sulk and say, well, that is the end of it. We don't have any hope. We just
02:34continue
02:35training and look forward. So getting the call up now, my mind is geared towards making that podium
02:44and dedicating that victory to my mother. Um, because she was my number one supporter in karate.
02:54Now, he's spurred on by the archives of his memory of her. It's another chance for son to send a
03:00message to
03:00mother in a fight that Shiva's mind and body is willing to win. Look out for this battle at the
03:06CSC
03:07Championships, which runs from July 24th to August 8th. With the karate segments set for the fifth, sixth,
03:13sixth, and seventh of August. Sergio Dufour, TV6 Sport.
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